E class ride quality

[Mahogany]

I have a 2013 E class W212 estate (S212) AMG Sport on 18"s which is a great overall package but one thing that lets it down slightly is the firm ride.

The car doesn't have adaptive suspension so I can't change between comfort/sport and on UK roads it feels quite harsh a lot of the time. Note that being the wagon (S212) it has automatically adjusting rear air suspension but I believe that's only for adjusting the height when the boot has a full load.

Has anyone ever switched AMG Sport suspension out for SE or similar suspension to get a better ride quality?

I know the low profile 18"s won't be helping either and I'd consider going for some 16"s or 17"s with big tyre walls.

[Nick67]

We have a W212 saloon, which had the dreaded AMG 19" staggered set up, running 275/30R19 R and 245/35R19 F

Why I've said dreaded is because we managed with all the potholes to crack the rear rims 3 times, these are well known to suffer from it, also shod with very low profile. With new wheels £650 a corner I opted to replace all 4 with 18" Borbet BLX all round, hese have 245/40R18. I did take advice before going for small wheels and non staggered.

This has massively improved the ride quality and handling, it was like a different car, also able to rotate the wheels for tyre wear, they also have transformed the look of the car.

Photo and details in this thread.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Mr E]

Have a 212 estate on air and 18”s.
Ride is good in comfort. I’ve driven quite some distance on decent roads with it in sport without noticing.

[Dunit]

I had the same problem with my ,212 sport estate on 18s but changed tyres to Avon and run them at 32 fr and 34 rear which was a big improvement.
Also my AMG pack came with huge front discs so not sure 17s would fit??

[ruhall]

When I bought my E350 coupé (so not directly comparable) several years ago I specifically ordered the SE as it had the 17" wheels and slightly higher profile tyres as I preferred the ride (for the use I intended to put the car to) to the 18" wheels on the Sport model but then had it specced to add all the other Sport standard fittings. Both models otherwise had the same suspension.

[Mahogany]

Dunit said:

I had the same problem with my ,212 sport estate on 18s but changed tyres to Avon and run them at 32 fr and 34 rear which was a big improvement.
Also my AMG pack came with huge front discs so not sure 17s would fit??

That's good to know. Were you running Bridgestones or runflats before? I currently have Bridgestones but I've seen comments like:

"Bridgestones are noted for stiff sidewalls and my car came with them from new. It was like driving on iron rings. Hugely better now it's on Michelin Primacy's."

[Dunit]

Yes B Stones.

[AC43]

Mr E said:

Have a 212 estate on air and 18”s.
Ride is good in comfort. I’ve driven quite some distance on decent roads with it in sport without noticing.

When I switched mine from air/17's to air/18's I did notice quite a difference. Things are deffo more nuggety and there is a bit more tyre noise.

The combination of air and 17's was bliss - almost S Class-like.

[AC43]

Dunit said:

my AMG pack came with huge front discs so not sure 17s would fit??

Mt E500 came with "sports brakes" as standard and FWIW 17's fit over them.

[Scrump]

I too have a 212 AMG sport estate on 18s. I don’t find the ride harsh although it definitely became more compliant when I changed the original Bridgestones for Uniroyal Rainsport3.

[Mr E]

AC43 said:

Mt E500 came with "sports brakes" as standard and FWIW 17's fit over them.

I’m quite surprised by that. I will have to investigate.

[AC43]

Mr E said:

I’m quite surprised by that. I will have to investigate.

Had a quick online check and mine are perforated/vented 344mm disks and have the MB-logo'd callipers.

I can't find the build sheet but am sure I read somewhere when I was working out what it had that they were sports brakes.

Edited by AC43 on Friday 15th March 22:01

[Mr E]

Yup, 344mm on the front with thumping big callipers.
320mm on the back.

They actually weren’t as horrific as I thought when we replaced them.

[AC43]

Mr E said:

Yup, 344mm on the front with thumping big callipers.

Them's the ones.

I can't remember how I figured it out when I bought it but I spent quite a while staring at the data card and at the original price list trying to unpick what had come as standard and what had been added by the first owner.

Sometimes MB stick things on 500's which aren't standard on the smaller-engined equivalents. Maybe that's why it has them.

You're right about the price - they are way cheaper than the "special" ones on a C43. Much bigger too.

Tremendous stoppers.